U.S. patent number 5,054,636 [Application Number 07/517,515] was granted by the patent office on 1991-10-08 for drum storage system utilizing detachable blocks.
Invention is credited to Karl Netzer.
United States Patent |
5,054,636 |
Netzer |
October 8, 1991 |
Drum storage system utilizing detachable blocks
Abstract
A clamping device for detachably joining together drums to be
stored one above the other and/or side by side is formed as a
block-shaped clamping device consisting of flexible material and
containing at least two open incisions. Preferably, the clamping is
of approximately cubic shape and the open incisions respectively
become wider as viewed toward the inside. The widened zones have
preferably cross-section shaped like arcuate segments.
Inventors: |
Netzer; Karl (6143 Lorsch,
DE) |
Family
ID: |
6338915 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/517,515 |
Filed: |
April 30, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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261362 |
Oct 24, 1988 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 23, 1987 [DE] |
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3735876 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.4; 24/288;
206/504; 24/456 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
2/22 (20130101); B65D 67/02 (20130101); Y10T
24/29 (20150115); Y10T 24/44009 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F16B
2/20 (20060101); F16B 2/22 (20060101); B65D
67/02 (20060101); B65D 67/00 (20060101); B65D
021/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/23.4,23.6 ;248/68.1
;24/287,288,336,339,531,545,456 ;206/504 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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161109 |
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1929 |
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AU |
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2008143 |
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Sep 1971 |
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DE |
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975405 |
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Mar 1951 |
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FR |
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1382492 |
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Nov 1964 |
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FR |
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658571 |
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Oct 1951 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Brittain; James R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey
Parent Case Text
This is a continuaton of copenidng application Ser. No. 07/261,362
filed on Oct. 24, 1988, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A drum storgage system comprising:
a plurality of drums of substantially equal diameter and height,
each drum having an upper rim and a lower rim, the drums being
arranged in a plurality of rows and columns and having an uppermost
set and lowermost set of drums so that for each two adjacent drums
of a row the lower rims of the two adjacent drums are juxtaposed
each other and the upper rims of the two adjacent drums are
juxtaposed each other, and for each two adjacent drums of each
column the lower rim of one drum overlies the upper rim of another,
adjacent drum;
a plurality of first blocks, each first block having a body made of
flexible material and having a first set of three projections on
one side which forms a first set of two clips and a second set of
three projections on an opposite side which forms a second set of
two clips, one first block being provided at each pair of
juxtaposed upper rims and each pair of juxtaposed lower rims to
clamp together the juxtaposed lower rims and the juxtaposed upper
rims of the adjacent drums of each row, and the coresponding lower
rim of a drum in one column with the corresponding upper rim in the
same column, and
a plurality of second blocks, each second block consisting of a
base and a first set of three projections on one side which forms a
first set of two clips, one second block being provided at each
pair of juxtaposed lower rims of the lowermost set of drums to
clamp together adjacent lower rims of the lowermost set of drums
and at each pair of juxtaposed upper rims of the adjacent drums of
the uppermost set of drums to clamp together adjacent upper rims of
the uppermost set of drums.
2. A clamping deivce according to claim 1 wherein the body has
first and second bores, each having an incision extending outwardly
from the respective bores to form the three projections of the
first set.
3. A clamping device according to claim 2, further comprising slots
formed along sides of the first set of two clips of the second
blocks to permit insertion of a prying tool.
4. A clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the base of the
second blocks used to clamp the juxtaposed lower rims of the drums
of the lowermost set of drums includes a plurality of claws to
prevent sliding.
5. A clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the base of each
second block used to clamp the juxtaposed lower rims of the drums
of the lowermost set of drums includes mounting holes for attaching
the block to a stationary structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for detachable binding together
of drums to be stored one above the other and/or side by side.
The most diverse goods and products are stored and transported in
drums. They can be, for example, not only liquids such as
beverages, extracts, luxury substances, but also aggressive
substances such as acids and lyes. Depending on the particular
requirements, the drums are enamelled internally and/or externally;
by analogy, the same is true for solid goods and products.
It has been found that the drums slip and strike each other during
transport. Aside from the traffic-related danger concealed herein,
the drums become dented, the enamelling consequently flakes off and
the contents become contaminated. These disadvantages are not
avoided even by interposing intermediate layers of covers or
cardboard between the drums.
Furthermore, such drums normally have upper and lower beads, which
do not permit stacking one above the other. Thus the loading
surfaces of transport vehicles or even intermediate layers with
pallets can be used only uneconomically.
From West German Laid-open Application 2,926,682 there is known a
spacer device, which relates to a spacer strut for drums standing
side by side and does not permit stacking one above the other.
West German Utility Model 78-06865 relates to a clamp for binding
together of two containers placed one abovfe the other and does not
represent anyy possibility of binding together of two containers
disposed side by side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device which
ensures detachable binding together of the drums and keeps them
spaced apart so that they cannot slip and strike each other and can
be stacked one above the other and stored side by side.
This object is achieved according to the invention by providing
that the clamping device for detachable binding together of drums
is characterized in that the clamping device consisting of flexible
material is formed as a block and contains at least two open
incisions.
A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that the
clamping device is of approximately cubic shape.
Another particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that
the open incisions respectively become wider as seen toward the
inside, that the widened zones located internally in the incisions
respectively have cross sections shaped like segments of a circle,
and that two open incisions respectively are disposed side by
side.
Another particularly preferred embodiment consists in providing
that the incisions consist of bores.
Another particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that
the clamping devices consists of flexible plastic.
Another particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that
the device is provided at the bottom surface with a claw-type face.
This clawing arrangement is suitable in particular as anchoring of
the drums standing on pallets, by virtue of the dead weight on the
pallet surface.
Another possible use of the clamping device provided with claw-type
faces consists in providing that the clamping devices are mounted
on the top rim of the drums, the claws then pointing upward and
hereby a clawing arrangement being achieved with the pallet
underside by virtue of the weight of the overlying pallets.
Another particularly preferred embodiment consists in providing
that the device preferably has four through-bores provided with
open incisions, the pairs of bores being disposed one above the
other.
Another particularly preferred embodiment consists in providing
that a preferably semicircular groove running parallel to each of
the bores is disposed in the region of the wall at the height of
the through-bores.
Another particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that
the through-bores and material grooves form flexible projections
which permit a bead to be clipped in.
Another particularly preferred embodiment consists in providing
that the middle projections are of pyramidal cross section.
Another particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that
the inside edges of the projections are of rounded shape.
Another particularly preferred embodiment consists in providing
that bores are disposed to pass a bolt through and that the
projections are provided with material incisions for introduction
of a large screwdriver blade.
The invention is now explained in more detail by means of the
attached drawings, which illustrate particularly preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention for binding
together of preferably two drums standing side by side.
FIG. 1a shows a top view from the direction "A" indicated in FIG.
1.
FIG. 2 shows the device for binding together of preferably drums
standing side by side and one above the other.
FIG. 3 shows the schematic diagram of bound-together
combination.
FIG. 4 shows a top view of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 shows the device according to the invention with claw-type
face.
FIG. 6 shows a view of the claw-type face from the direction "B"
indicated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective diagram of the device 1 according to the
invention. This practical example is used for binding together of
drums disposed side by side on the base surface, i.e., where the
drums sit on the vehicle floor or on a pallet.
In the region of the base surface, a particularly preferred
practical example provides a claw-type face 10, as is illustrated
in FIGS. 5 and 6. The body of approximately cubic shape is provided
with two through-bores 2, 3, each of which is provided with an open
incision 6, 47.
In region of the walls, a semicircular groove 11, 12 runs parallel
to each of the bores 2, 3. The bores 2, 3 as well as the grooves
11, 12 together form a geometric, intentionally thinned section, so
that flexible projections 15, 16, 17 which permit clipping into the
beaded, circularly rounded drum rims are formed in the material.
The thusly locked drums are held at a constant distance apart, so
that they cannot strike each other.
For securing to the base surface or pallet, the clamping device
according to the invention is provided with bores 23, through each
of which a bolt can be passed.
In order also to permit engagement of large-bladed screwdrivers,
the projections 15, 16, 17 are provided with material recessess
24.
FIG. 1a shows a top view from the direction "A" indicated in FIG.
1.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective diagram of the invention, which permits
the binding together of drums disposed side by side and one above
the other.
The structural configurations are analogous to those already
described in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show a bound-together combination of
drums 21, achieved by the device 1 according to the invention. It
is clear here that this combination can be enlarged as desired,
depending on the space availability in the transport vehicle.
In the area in which drums are stored side by side and one above
the other, the devices illustrated in FIG. 2 are preferably
used.
The invention represents a device which permits stacking of drums
side by side and one above the other in a manner optimum from the
viewpoints of both storage and transport technology, and which is
reusable because of its detachability from the drums.
* * * * *